Thanksgiving is coming....Food and Football :)

So now with Halloween over....we start to move into the rest of the Holiday season. I love this part of the year. Just seeing people with more smiles on their faces and being around family and friends. I love getting ready for Christmas, and putting up the lights and the tree. Making holiday goodies for people and delivering them. I just really love this time of year.

What?!?.....It's October already?

Okay...so now I know that this blogging thing....well let's just say that I suck at it. I had all these wonderful plans on keeping people updated?? Who, I don't know, but still people out there in cyberland need to know what is happening to me...right??

The summer flew by and now we are faced with my favorite season of the year FALL....and what fall is so wonderful for is HALLOWEEN. There I said it. I love love love Halloween....something about scaring the Bajesus out of people and getting rewarded with lots and lots of chocolate and candy.....it's gotta be heaven.

My downside is that born to me was a true halloween hater. Wesley is my child who tries very hard every year to buck up and be brave while his mother tortures him with masks, fake ghoulish decorations, flying witches, graveyards in our front yard, and everything in between.

Just the other day in Wal-Mart we had a major screaming melt down about the fake halloween masks. Lewis was ever so kindly trying them on and showing Ryann, who was laughing at them....while Wes was three aisles over screaming bloody murder. Several other adults were laughing at poor Wes having his melt down....and I was one of them, but I was also trying to tell him that they were not real, they were fake, and it was still dad underneath the mask....which didn't help.

One fellow shopper chimed in that wasn't it just great how we think it is funny how scared the kids get. Which I was thinking yeah....this is the part I love, but it feels so wrong when it is my kid freaking out. I am suppose to protect my kids, but at halloween time all bets are off. Sad to say that Wes is gonna have a rough time in our family.

He is showing improvement though....on the way home from the ordeal, he said," Mom, we can go to the house with the guy on the front porch this year, and the scary music, because I know it is a real guy and they had real good candy."

I hope they don't disappoint him....on the other hand the neighbors up the road from us they really decorate, wispy black grim reaper, coffin, bones, tombstones, etc.....Wes just stares as we pass.....and of course, I could not resist.....with him staring so intently trying to decide if the reaper was real or fake as we passed, I reached back grabbed him and said...BOO. He cried and I laughed....Okay so writing it down now...it was mean, but I LOVE HALLOWEEN.

And just a side note....Wes was traumatized about masks by an old friend of mine when he was two....she scared him in a store we worked at. She was behind me, jumped out with this scary mask on and he did this jumping screaming dance and was too scared to get to me because she was between us. To this day we drive by that store and he will say, "That's the store that Amanda scared me with that mask, huh mom." WE all nearly peed our pants laughing, but he is scarred for life by it.

Honestly I have down played the holiday since I know it bothers him so bad....I even throw out the "really scary" witch, but I cannot be held responsible for everyone else's scare tactics. I am holding out for him to let me know that he is OK with Halloween....he doesn't have to love it like I do, but when he gives me the "I'm Ok and it's all fake".....I hope he is prepared for what he will unleash. I have fears that I will have him under the covers shaking as a teenager....but we will see......muwhahahahahah!

Live life....

Ed Marshall (Lewis's half-brother), Jennie his sister and Lewis

Paddling around sandwash

Ryann and Basal trying to figure out how to escape

Wes and Lewis laying the crappy sod....lots of water and prayers are all

that will save it...haha

Lewis after his father's funeral

Well alot has been happening to the Casper's lately. Last month we sent Klara home, and since then it has been an adjustment. I lovede having her around to talk to, and she was really fun to get to know. Life of course moves on even if we don't...so basically we have been trying to keep busy.

Wes started his fourth year of swimming lessons....level 1....a step up from "preschool". I thought "here we go again".....this boy has hated the water with a passion since he was about 18 months old. Long story about a traumatic diagnostic test...involving water. ANYWAY.....Wes has surprised me and come into his own with the water this year. He was dunking and diving the second day of lessons....and most recently he gave me a near heart attack by doing a cannonball into the water. Can I just say AWESOME....I am so glad that he is getting over the past and moving forward.

Speaking of moving forward and getting over the past....the most recent and surprising event has been the death of my father-in-law. As most who know me have known....Ed and I did not see things eye to eye...We had not gotten to the point where we could even be around each other without much tension. I have just found out the hard way...that harboring a grudge is never worth what you miss out on. Ed collasped of a massive stroke the day after Father's Day, and he never came to for anyone to talk to him....so I had to make my apologies to him in the hospital before he passed away, and I regret not being able to do this before this happened.

Lewis is taking over his dad's business and I really hope that it all works out for him and his mom. Life is just full of surprises and I have decided that it is how well you take on the challenge that determines how well life is for you. As long as I can keep a positive attitude even when life hands me the "lemons" I will be okay.

We have been trying to not put off things now because of all this....so this last weekend we went to the lake and Lewis and the kids paddled around in the canoe...which I lovingly refer to as the "tin can".....I went out and it was way to traumatic of an event for me to continue. They had fun and I learned a valuable lesson..."little swimmers" are not of the same quality as regular diapers.....UHM....you canno put them on and then feed a bottle and then travel to the lake....major diaper explosion. Ryann was completely wet and so was the carseat. NOTE TO SELF: change baby at the destination...not before!

Graduation has now come and gone. Klara has been here for 10 months with us, and 11 months total in America. Time truly flies anymore, and I cannot believe that in two days she will be boarding a plane and heading back to the Czech Republic. What can I say about the year with Klara?? So many things. Klara has been my kid who has been so caring and sweet. She's a beautiful person inside and out. We have had great times getting to know her. All the laughter and stories that we have shared. I hope that she remembers us as fondly as we will remember her. Klara has always been a great help to me, during this crazy year. She jumped in and helped with everything we ever asked her to help with, and of course I have to say that she helped even more than we'd ask...(I'd have to tell her to stop doing the dishes...because I wouldn't have anything to do during the day...haha).

I know that Wesley will miss her terribly, and Ryann won't even know what happened to the best baby food feeder she has ever known. I am always amazed at the bravery of the kids who come here. I would be scared out of my mind, not knowing the people I'd be living with for the school year. I'm just thankful that Klara has been the great kid that she is.

I will miss teasing her about America's Next Top Model (I hate that show), the yummy cookies that she'd make, hearing her and Wes fighting, her laugh, talking with her about my family, and most of all I will miss her accent. (sorry Klara, but I love your accent!!)

Klara has grwon so much in the time I have known her. She may only think that her English has gotten better, but I can see how she has matured even more than she already was. Looking bac now I cannot imagine my life not knowing her. I am blessed to have been able to host her in my home and have her become a part of my family forever. I love her and I will miss her so much.

We can hardly wait to visit our sweet Klarinka :):)

More Sugar Please....

This Years cake

Last years cake

Tonight was our Young Women's Cake Auction and Spaghetti Dinner. They raise money for their girls camp by auctioning off yummy cakes to us. Well last year was a doosie....and by that I mean the Casper family went nuts....mainly mama Casper(which is me) lost her mind temporarily...and spent $350.00.....yes I said it three hundred and fifty dollars on one cake. Can I just say that the ward thinks that we are crazy about cake....well truth be told....I just really wanted to do something really good with my ex-husbands alimony check. What better way to do it...than to take it from him(his wages were garnished) and give it away. Okay...so it really wasn't as noble as it should have been.

This year it was a different story. I am still the crazed nutball who feels compelled to win the biggest cake....(bidders beware...Casper's in the house)...but I felt a different spirit behind my cause. I have grown to love so many people in the ward I am in, and I truly want to help out where I can, well maybe not nursery....and definately not primary. I feel connected to the youth. I know that is where I lost my faith, I began to see people are not always good and that sometimes bad things happen. I guess in a way this is my way to do something for others who are at an age where I felt I was all alone.

So moving to the point...at my house this week there is a huge chocolate castle on my kitchen table...and I know that somewhere down the line I will be blessed because of it. At least someone gets something good out of my compulsive behaviors.

Come to think of it...I recently told Klara that I always wanted a castle...so maybe this wasn't exactly what I was thinking...but hey I got my castle!!!!

Nosebleed section...

Beautiful Klarinka

Ronnie Brewer # 9

Andrei Kirilenko #47

SWOOOOOOSH

Kyrylo Fesenko #44 and little Miss Klara

So whenever we have had the opportunity to go to a Jazz game, we have been high up in the "nosebleed" section. The reason I am telling you about this is because it has always been fun to watch even from out vantage point....never thought twice about it. It was a blast just being there and doing something that we don't always get the chance to do.

Well this last time has really put it all into perspective. I was able to get my students down to the floor and they got to meet #44 Fesenko, #9 Brewer, and #15 Harpring. This is where all that perspective comes into play...These guys are HUGE!!! At nosebleed level, yes they were small, but if they were normal they would look like children...LOL. I never really thought about their height and now that I have meet some layers in person....wow....it was such a great night and I think that the kids really enjoyed it!

Casper News Update...

Klara and Mrs. Cook at East Elementary



Klara talking with the second graders about the Czech Republic

Wes lost his third tooth....with three more that are loose

Ryann at six months thinks that she needs to rock my world

and start crawling....nothing is safe anymore!!

She has all those toys, and she likes to play with the cord and
plastic bag!! What a bad mom...giving them to her!!

Alot has been going on in the Casper household....Klara has been busy with being a track manager at Union. She has been doing lots of stuff with them. It was comical to see her after she got her hoodie....they forgot the "r" at the end of Manager....she was wanting to know if I could sew one on for her....it was driving her nuts! I think that my OCD behaviors are beginning to rub off on her ;)

Wes has lost his third tooth....he was sooo excited that it came out all by itself....and that I didn't need to help him at all...(sorry Jason there is no way that I can sit on him and pull his teeth and still tell hi that it is for his own good!!) Unfortunately the "toothfairy" was a little absent-minded and forgot to trade his tooth for money two nights in a row!!! Stupid toothfairy...she is fired!! She managed to come will he was eating breakfast....and I "heard" her trip over all the toys in his room....thank goodness I have these super hearing powers ;)...all is well now that she came and delivered her golden dollar. Sacagawea has to be good for something right??

Ryann on the other hand thinks that she needs to make my life a little more interesting....the days of just hanging are now gonna be full of running around keeping her out of stuff. She has decided to learn how to crawl...and she has also decided that I need to know that she is a very fast learner. No need to tell her, or show her twice!! Pretty soon she'll be all over the place...and I will have to step up my cleaning skills...and Wes will need to close his door. It has been a long time since I had an anklebiter...and had to deal with all this exploration. Gates are looking like a great idea!!